How to Build Websites - Web Design

Hello folks, you must be wondering how to build a website of your very own. Well, I intend to tell/show you today about what options are out there, and how to take advantage of them. Heck, you may even be able to make some money on the way!

Choices, choices

There are two ways to create a website these days (well, there are actually several more than that, but I am focusing on two).

• There is the good old fashioned HTML, I mean XHTML, I mean XHTML and CSS, I mean Ruby, I mean Web 2.0, I mean XHTML Transitional, no Strict, no... AHHH!!!! What I mean is the funky code that people use to make a browser see nifty things when they are browsing the Internet.
• There is also what is called a WYSIWYG (pronounced was ee wig) which stands for "What You See Is What You Get". Basically a piece of software that writes all the code for you, while you write like you would in Micro$oft Word. For example, our very own HubPages includes a WYSIWYG editor that functions just like a typical text editor.
• I prefer a combination of the two. For example, a WYSIWYG that allows you to go into the HTML (the code) and change little things about it. HubPages lets you do that to a smallextent, but not to the extent that I usually like. I am completely comfortable coding in CSS and XHTML, but WYSIWYGs are just so much easier and FASTER!

"So what should I put in a website?"

I think the best advice I have here is not "content that sells the best" or to copy "the highest ranked sites out there" or to even "do what makes the most money". What I suggest you do is just write about what you love, what you enjoy, your hobbies, your experiences, your career. If you write about stuff you don't know about or are not passionate about, your readers will know. They will find flaws, pick everything apart, and expose you for a fraud. If you write about stuff you already know about, this will not happen (as much, but then trolls will be trolls).

If you are interested in your topic, chances are there are other people out there who also are. Now, my tastes are very eclectic, and some are very non-traditional, especially for a male. So I know that you can write about something you love, and others who love the same things will read your content.

A Black Font on a Navy Blue Background... Or, "What did that say again?"

Websites are also a matter of style. If you have the absolute BEST content on the web, but no one can read it because it is yellow text on a white background, it will not do you any good, it will not do the people who come to your site any good, and it will not make you any money. Some times just sticking with black text on a white border will be your best bet. It is easy to read, and while not as visually interesting as other combinations, it is a default which your guests will typically appreciate (see my previous note about trolls).

I can't think of an interesting heading here... (The 'parts' of a Website)

Ok, so sorry about that. I was thinking about something to do with anatomy, or parts of the body, or something catchy, but I failed. So anyway. There are several distinguishing features of a website, but we are only covering three.

• Content:This is the stuff you actually write, the pictures you put on your site, your videos, soundclips, etc. Make sure that what you are writing is spell-checked (though I always forget to do this, and will probably even forget to spell check this article). Make sure that your grammar is understandable. Don't worry about dangling participles, but make sure that your individual sentences make sense. Don't be a wuss and plagiarize or steal other people's stuff.
• Pictures:Make sure that the pictures on your site are clear, in proportion, and you have the legal right to post them. They can add or detract from a site, so make sure they are necessary, and make sure that they are quality pictures. Resize them so they don't take up the whole page, and you should be fine. Again, "don't be a wuss and plagiarize or steal other people's stuff". See, I wrote that, so it isn't stealing :)

• Links: Use appropriate links to other people's sites (especially if you are using something they've done, THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN YOU PERMISSION TO USE! Don't over use links, and if you follow some basic style ideas (which will probably be the follow up to this article) then you may even be able to use some of those links for revenue purposes.

"So, uh, how do I GET a website?"

www.godaddy.com is a pretty comprehensive "one stop shop" for purchasing a domain name and buying hosting space. Now, I've had issues with them when my domain name was going to expire, they charged my card, but I just ignored the reminders, so that is completely my fault. I am still happy with them and their service. Their customer service department is actually pretty great, too. (I'm not a reseller for godaddy, so you're not giving me any money by clicking the link).

Basically, you rent space to 'host' a site, and you rent the name of your site (eg www.HubPages.com). The nice thing about getting them at the same site, is you know that timing will work out to your benefit. I rarely have downtime issues with them, and the prices are very competitive. They also have several WYSIWYGs for free, and will tell you step-by-step how to set everything up.

"So what do I do now that I have a website?

Well, besides a place for pictures, your interests, your loves, your family, a blog, or other things, you can potentially make money with your website. http://thekeywordacademy.comis honestly the best site for information I have seen of this nature. The best part is that the information I have found there has been free. The The Keyword Crash course ebook has some great information, and a lot of it is applicable to HubPages, too. It is free, and they will even break it up into 5 parts if you would like. Again, they aren't paying me to link them, so you can be sure it is valuable (and more importantly free) information!

"So, uh, about that HTML stuff you were talking about?"

Here are some sample 'code' snippets, to give you an idea of how relatively simple HTML can be. You basically surround your text with little 'tags' that tell the browser how to view them. For example:

• <h1>How to build websites</h1> This tells your browser to view this text as a big, bold, heading with a line break after it.

• <p>This is a paragraph</p>
  This will add a blank space in between lines of your code.

• <b></b> <i></i> <u></u> (somewhat obsolete) these will tell your browser to view text as either BOLD, ITALIC, or UNDERLINED.

"Can I see it all together?"

Note: This is the most basic of websites, and does not take into account any nifty new standards that apply to websites these days.

<html>

<head>
<title> blog title goes here </title>
</head>

<body bgcolor="white" text="pink">

<h1> My first page </h1>

This is a very simple web page. It is pretty nifty. In karpouzian's next lesson, he will teach me how to add pictures, links, and change the background and 'stuff' on a website.
</body>

</html>

Enjoy, and Good Luck!